4 2009-11-17T03:30:03+11:00 false But what is it? <br> I found this at the Texas Renaissance Festival over the weekend. At first I thought it was a flowering tree, but then I realized that it was actually a thick, woody vine (or at least something rambly and not upright) trained to a tree form with re-bar and support wires. <br> The leaves ranged in size from about an inch to two inches long, and half as wide as the length. They're thick, waxy, and a dark, cool green in color. <br> The flowers are a soft clear yellow, with 4-5 petals, slightly ruffled on the edges. A few long, curly, brown stamens in the center. <br> The flowers in the photo came out a bit blurry, but the foliage is nice and sharp (stupid camera, argh). Anyone recognize this? Know anything about it? <br> 0 false 70846 false false true Entry 2009-11-16T17:00:00+11:00 DMY 87048 Public 2009-11-18T02:39:59+11:00 4821 54 F 5 2009-11-16T20:36:59+11:00 false I work in an underground office with no window (temps around 20 deg. Celcius) and would like to add a plant to my desk.. Will my snake plant (the short sprigged kind) do well here? If we are closed for what period of time, (meaning lights off for several days) how many days will be okay? Should I give more plant food in an environment like this? Thanks! 0 false 70839 false false true Entry 2009-11-16T11:00:00+11:00 DMY Public 2009-11-16T20:36:59+11:00 11526 Sunny 20 C 21 2009-11-13T05:05:03+11:00 false I'd love to hear some feedback on 3 deck-hung herb boxes I'm planning for next year. Unless otherwise noted, I plan to start plants from seeds indoors. I'm in Chicago (Zone 5b). Each box will be about 48" x 18" and be arranged with a centerpiece plant and then 2 plants of the same type to either side and hopefully 2 trailing type plants spilling off either side. (See image) I'm trying to create groupings that will be attractive in the containers as well as bountiful for use in the kitchen. *Box 1 - Excellent sun* - Hot Thai Pepper Plant (Center Piece Plant) - Globe/Minnet Basil - English Thyme (have one plant, may split it or buy a second about the same size) - Violas interspersed for color *Box 2 - Excellent sun* - Rosemary Bush Trained to Xmas Tree Shape (center piece plant- I'd probably buy this one) - Red Basil - Chives - Violas interspersed for color *Box 3 - Good sun* - Sage? Lavender? (center piece plant) - Arugula - Oregano - Violas interspersed for color I have a large, healthy sage bush right now given to me by a friend - it's on our deck in a pot right now (see photo). It's giant though, almost 3 feet high. If I could trim this down and train it to be bushier and more compact, I'd love to use it as the centerpiece in Box 3, but I'm not sure if it's too lanky to survive getting trimmed back to about 18 in round. What do you think? Should I trim it now or in the spring? Should I leave it out or bring it inside for the winter? What do you think of my herb combos? Will these guys play nice together? Do you think these plants will be attractive in boxes like this? 1 false 70732 false false true Entry 2009-11-13T17:00:00+11:00 DMY 86729 Public 2009-11-14T02:57:23+11:00 12244 51 F 5 2009-11-13T01:32:36+11:00 false It hasn't germinated yet. But I'm not worried; They don't germinate for a long time. Here's my question: _how_ long does it take for them to germinate? 0 false 70731 false false true Entry 2009-11-12T11:00:00+11:00 DMY Public 2009-11-13T01:32:36+11:00 5072 F 0 2009-11-12T16:19:17+11:00 false The dill is forming leaves, the peas are starting to die back (although the successional plantings are still cropping and growing respectively) and some of the potatoes are starting to flower. Always action. But I also have a question for anyone listening :) Some of my potatoes have grown into stout, bushy shrubs, while most of them seem to be shooting a bit, more stalky. (I'd get a photo but right now its all I can do to get to the computer with my two little munchkins!) They all seem healthy, and there's no strong correlation between varieties, except that the first planting of Ruby Lou's are all lovely and bushy, and only the 2nd round of Atlantics have some flowers, but a mix of stalkiness. Any thoughts on why the difference? Or whether it might affect outcomes? 0 false 70725 false false true Entry 2009-11-12T00:00:00+11:00 DMY Public 2009-11-12T16:31:39+11:00 4305 Cloudy 35 C 2 2009-11-11T01:34:01+11:00 false The tree has bounced back relatively well from the pruning, plenty of new shoots most of which seem to be growing well. I'm in the process of slowly trying to thin out the shoots a bit though, getting rid of ones in the center and thinning the new branches on the edges of the plant out to about one or two. However diseases or pests are already back on the bloody thing, the photos clearly show the leaves on one side of the plant curling and not behaving properly. Any suggestions on how to deal with this? I can't find any bugs (except for aphids and ants), but I need new glasses so that doesn't mean they aren't there. 0 false 70675 false false true Entry 2009-11-10T11:00:00+11:00 DMY 86626 Public 2009-11-11T01:34:03+11:00 228 19 C 4 2009-11-10T09:03:17+11:00 false My seed starter/propagator garden has one of those types of bug in it. How do I get rid of them before they cause serious damage to my plants? %(roseyred)Edit: I found a lively lady bug in the bathroom last night, and put her in there, but she is not there this morning, and the bugs are still there, so that didn't work. I wonder if I use some soapy water in there if that would take care of the problem?% 0 false 3 70667 false false true Entry 2009-11-09T17:00:00+11:00 DMY Public 2009-11-11T01:17:34+11:00 5779 Partly Sunny 57 F 4 2009-11-06T10:24:24+11:00 false Hi folks, Anyone know of an effective organic way of controlling/getting rid of white fly, They have completely smothered my brocolli plant and have recently set camp on my brasiccas - Brocolli, Kale and Cabbage. Touch the leaves of the plant and there is a cloud of white! Also, any ideas at what temperature they will not survive - just wondering with Winter setting in whether they might not survive? 0 false 70533 false false true Entry 2009-11-05T11:00:00+11:00 DMY Public 2009-11-06T10:24:24+11:00 10351 Rainy 8 C 3 2009-11-04T12:50:53+11:00 false This summer I added some very beautiful healthy Knock Out Roses to my circular Perennial garden. They started out very well but as time has gone on, they have steadily declined. I'm totally perplexed as to their decline. They are in well fertilized mulched soil that iris and alliums are thriving in. They are in a sunny location that receives regular scheduled waterings. I'm concerned that perhaps the alliums that the roses are in the same bed with, maybe Stifling the lives of the roses. Another culprit that maybe effecting the roses growth are the mature black walnut trees that are located about 30 feet away. Can anyone provide some information that can assist me in providing these roses a healthier life? I'd love to see them grow as I know they are able. 0 false 70483 false false true Entry 2009-11-04T11:00:00+11:00 DMY Public 2009-11-04T12:50:53+11:00 12203 C 3 2009-11-04T01:08:15+11:00 false Anyone heard of it? Anyone know where to get seeds? 0 false 70462 false false true Entry 2009-11-03T18:00:00+11:00 DMY Public 2009-11-04T01:08:15+11:00 6176 30 F